Bolt assembly and method

Abstract

A bolt assembly (21) including a movable bolt (34) and a user manipulatable bolt displacement assembly is disclosed. The bolt displacement assembly moves the bolt (34) between a locked and an unlocked position. The bolt displacement assembly includes a user manipulated handle (37), a torque transfer assembly (b 38) and an electromagnet (39). Handle (37) is mounted on an exterior side (36) of the bolt assembly (21) and is freely movable without coupling of the handle (37) to displace the bolt (34). Torque transfer assembly (38) in the form of a rocker arm (63) is mounted for movement in response to movement of the handle (37) and moves to and from a torque transmitting position during at least part of the movement cycle of the handle (37). Additionally, electromagnet (39) is reponsive to user input for energization thereof and is positioned to magnetically hold the torque transfer assembly (38) in the torque's transmitting position upon the simultaneous occurrence of energization of the electromagnet (39 ) and movement of the torque transfer assembly (38) to the torque transmitting position by the handle (37). Handle (37) is further movable by the user while the torque transfer assembly (38) is held in the torque's transmitting position to couple the handle (37) to bolt (34) to move the bolt (34) between the locked position and the unlocked position. Additionally, an optic link (29, 32) coupling dead bolt assembly (21) to an electronic door lock assembly (23) is provided so that input to the door lock assembly (23) automatically energizes the electromagnet (39) in the dead bolt assembly (21) to permit opening of the dead bolt assembly (21).

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of operating a bolt assembly having a movable exterior handle means, movable bolt means, movable transfer means transmitting motion of said handle means to move said bolt means, and electromagnet means responsive to user input for energization of the same, said method including the steps of: biasing said transfer means to a position in which motion of said handle cannot be transmitted to said bolt means;   moving said transfer means by said handle means against said biasing means to a motion transmitting position;   energizing said electromagnet means by user input to hold said transfer means against said biasing means in said motion transmitting position; and   moving said handle means while said transfer means is held in said motion transmitting position until said transfer means is moved by said handle means to produce movement of said bolt means.   
     
     
       2. In a bolt assembly including movable bolt means, and a user manipulatable bolt displacement assembly for displacement of said bolt means between a locked position and an unlocked position, the improvement in said bolt assembly comprising: said displacement assembly including: (i) a user manipulatable handle means on an exterior side of said bolt assembly mounted for rotation without coupling of said handle means to displace said bolt means;   (ii) torque transfer means mounted for movement to and from a torque transmitting position in response to movement of said handle means, said torque transfer means includes rocker assembly mounted for movement into and out of said torque transmitting position in response to engagement with said handle means during rotation thereof;   (iii) said displacement assembly further including a bolt driver bar connected to displace said bolt means; and   (iv) electromagnet means having input means for engergization thereof and positioned to magnetically hold said torque transfer means in said torque transmitting position upon the occurrence of energization of said electromagnet means and upon movement of said torque transfer means to said torque transmitting position;     said torque transfer means further carries a movable clip means coupled to said driver bar and having a tab portion engageable by said handle means only when said rocker assembly is held in said torque transmitting position to transmit motion from said handle means to said driver bar and thereafter to said bolt means; and   said handle means being further rotatable by the user while said torque transfer means is in said torque transmitting position to couple said handle means to said bolt means for the transmission of torque from said handle means to move said bolt means between said locked position and said unlocked position.   
     
     
       3. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein, said rocker assembly is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis intermediate opposed ends of said rocker assembly, said pivotal axis being oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said handle means;   said rocker assembly engages said handle means proximate a first end thereof and carries said clip means proximate an opposite second end thereof; and   said first end of said rocker assembly is biased into engagement with said handle means.   
     
     
       4. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein, said electromagnet means includes a solenoid and an armature; and   one of said solenoid and said armature is carried by said rocker assembly for movement therewith, and a remainder of said solenoid and said armature is fixedly mounted proximate said rocker assembly.   
     
     
       5. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein, said armature is mounted to said first end of said rocker assembly;   said rocker assembly is biased to position said armature in spaced relation to said solenoid; and   said handle means is comprised of a ring member having at least one protrusion on an inner end surface thereof facing said rocker assembly, said protrusion having a height dimension cooperating with said rocker assembly sufficient to displace said rocker assembly about said pivotal axis until said armature engages said solenoid.   
     
     
       6. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein, said clip means includes a tab extending in the direction of said ring member; and   said tab on said clip means is formed to cooperatively engage said protrusion on said ring member when said rocker assembly is held in said torque transmitting position by said electromagnet means.   
     
     
       7. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein, said bolt means is mounted for movement between said locked position and said unlocked position without the action of a spring to provide a dead bolt assembly;   said handle means is comprised of a ring rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said bolt means, said ring having an inner annular end face with at least one lug extending inwardly from said face;   said rocker assembly is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis intermediate a first end and a second end of said rocker assembly, said pivotal axis being oriented in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said ring, said first end of said rocker assembly including a portion for engagement by said lug and said first end carrying an armature of said electromagnet means, said second end having a portion for engagement by said lug and carrying said clip means connected to drive said bolt   means biasing said first end of said rocker assembly toward said ring; and   said electromagnet means including a solenoid fixedly mounted proximate said first end and said solenoid generating a magnetic force sufficient to overcome the force biasing said rocker assembly toward said ring when said armature is substantially in contact with said solenoid.   
     
     
       8. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein, said portion on said first end and said portion on said clip means each protrude toward said ring.   
     
     
       9. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein, said clip means is pivotally mounted to said second end of said rocker assembly for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said axis of rotation of said ring in order to apply a rotational force to drive said bolt means between said locked position and said unlocked position.   
     
     
       10. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein, said clip means is provided as a U-shaped clip having opposed legs formed with aligned slots therein;   said displacement assembly includes a driver bar coupled to move said bolt means;   said rocker assembly has an opening in said second end dimensioned to rotationally receive said driver bar; and   said clip is mounted on said second end with said legs on opposite sides of said second end, said slots aligned with said opening, and said driver bar mounted through said slots and said opening.   
     
     
       11. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein, said end face of said ring is provided with three circumferentially spaced apart inwardly extending lugs.   
     
     
       12. In a bolt assembly including movable bolt means, and a user manipulatable bolt displacement assembly for displacement of said bolt means between a locked position and an unlocked position, the improvement in said bolt assembly comprising: said displacement assembly including: (i) a user manipulatable movable handle means;   (ii) transfer means mounted for movement between a position to transmit motion coupling said handle means to move said bolt means and a position releasing said handle means for movement which is incapable of transmitting motion to said bolt means;   (iii) biasing means urging said transfer means to said position releasing said handle means, said handle means and said transfer means further being cooperatively formed to move said transfer means against said biasing means to said position to transmit motion in response to motion of said handle means; and   (iv) electromagnet means having input means for energization thereof and positioned to magnetically hold said transfer means against said biasing means in said position to transmit motion upon the occurrence of energization of said electromagnet means and upon movement of said transfer means by said handle means; and     said handle means being further movable by the user while said transfer means is held in said position to transmit motion by said electromagnet means for the transmission of motion from said handle means to said bolt means to move said bolt means from said locked position to said unlocked position.   
     
     
       13. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein, said electromagnet means includes an armature and a solenoid, with one of said armature and said solenoid carried by said transfer means for movement therewith and a remainder thereof mounted proximate said transfer means; and   at least one of said armature and solenoid being mounted to provide over-travel in insure positive contact of said armature and solenoid.   
     
     
       14. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein, said armature is mounted to said torque transfer means,   said solenoid is mounted to a support member proximate said torque transfer means, and   said armature is mounted by mounting means permitting relative movement of said armature with respect to said mounting means upon initial contact of said armature with said solenoid, said mounting means further resiliently biasing said armature toward contact with said solenoid.   
     
     
       15. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 12, and a door lock assembly mounted proximate said molt assembly, said door lock assembly including user input means responsive to user input to effect unlocking of said door lock assembly and responsive to user input to generate an output signal; and   said bolt assembly responsive to said output signal from said door lock assembly to energize said electromagnet means.   
     
     
       16. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein, said door lock assembly includes signal transmitter means, said bolt assembly includes signal receiver means mounted to receive signals from said transmitter means to energize said electromagnet means.   
     
     
       17. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein, said door lock assembly includes means responsive to a coded user input coupled to transmitter means to produce said output signal in response to said coded input; and   said bolt assembly includes receiver means mounted to receive said output signal from said transmitter means and energize said electromagnet means in response thereto.   
     
     
       18. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein, said electromagnet means includes user input means on an interior side of said assembly responsive to user input to energize said electromagnet means for a predetermined time period.   
     
     
       19. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein, said electromagnet means includes switch means responsive to a change of position of said bolt means to de-energize said electromagnet means.   
     
     
       20. In a bolt assembly including a movable bolt, a movable handle, motion transfer means mounted for movement between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, said motion transfer means coupling said handle for movement of said bolt in said coupled position and said motion transfer means uncoupling said handle from said bolt in said uncoupled position, and electromagnet means responsive to user input for energizing thereof and positioned to hold said motion transfer means in said coupled position when energized, the improvement in said bolt assembly comprising: said motion transfer means being normally biased to said uncoupled position,   said handle and said motion transfer means being cooperatively formed for displacement of said motion transfer means to said coupled position against biasing thereof by movement of said handle, and   said electromagnet means having sufficient force to hold said motion transfer means in said coupled position against biasing thereof for movement of said bolt upon movement of said motion transfer means by said handle.   
     
     
       21. The bolt assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein, said motion transfer means being biased and said handle and said motion transfer means being cooperatively formed to free said handle for movement which is incapable of transmitting motion to said bolt except upon energizing of said electromagnet.   
     
     
       22. The dead bolt assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein, said assembly includes mechanical key-driven tumbler assembly coupled to displace said bolt means independently of said motion transfer means.   
     
     
       23. In a bolt assembly including movable bolt means, and a user manipulatable bolt displacement assembly for displacement of said bolt means between a locked position and an unlocked position, the improvement in said bolt assembly comprising: said displacement assembly including: (i) a user manipulatable handle means rotatably mounted for rotation through 360 degrees;   (ii) torque transfer means mounted for movement to and from a torque transmitting position in response to rotation of said handle means;   (iii) biasing means biasing said torque transfer means out said torque transmitting position;   (iv) electromagnet means having input means for energization thereof and positioned to magnetically hold said torque transfer means against said biasing means in said torque transmitting position upon the occurrence of energization of said electromagnet means and upon movement of said torque transfer means to said torque transmitting position by said handle means;     said handle means being further movable by the user while said torque transfer means is held in said torque transmitting position by said electromagnet means for the transmission of torque form said handle means through said torque transfer means to move said bolt means from said locked position to said unlocked position; and   said handle means, said torque transfer means and said biasing means being cooperatively formed to prevent transmission of torque from said handle means to said bolt means except when said electromagnet means is energized.